Excellent
#71 of 1,986 schools in MN
Top 4% in state
Dowling Elementary
Elementary School · Minneapolis Public School District
3900 W RIVER PKWY, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Enrollment
315
Student-Teacher
15:1
Score
8.6
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
315
Student-Teacher
15:1
Score
8.6
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Minneapolis
#7 of 125
public schools
Minnesota elementary schools
#68 of 962
In district
#6 of 78
Minneapolis Public School District
School environment
8.8 / 10
Exceptional
About Dowling Elementary
Dowling Elementary is a public elementary school in Minneapolis, MN, part of the Minneapolis Public School District. The school serves approximately 315 students in grades Kindergarten – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 15:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.6/10, placing it in the 96.5th percentile among MN schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 53% proficiency in math and 60% in reading/language arts. The school scores particularly well in school environment (8.8/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $91,865, where 56% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a large city setting.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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Dowling Elementary — Students at Dowling Elementary score 60% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 48%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
37.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MN EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 6 test records from MN state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.5/10.
How Dowling Elementary Compares
See how Dowling Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 60% (2019) to 52% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 61% (2019) to 67% (2022).
Location
3900 W RIVER PKWY, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Dowling Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. GROVELAND PARK ELEMENTARY (rated 8.7/10, 0.9 miles away, in nearby Saint Paul), with a very similar rating. Another option is HORACE MANN SCHOOL (rated 8.5/10, 1.2 miles away, in nearby Saint Paul), with a very similar rating. Additionally, MINNEHAHA ACADEMY LOWER SCHOOL (rated 8.1/10, 0.4 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Minneapolis, see our Minneapolis schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.4 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| MINNEHAHA ACADEMY LOWER SCHOOL Minneapolis | 0.4 mi | 8.1 |
| Howe Elementary Minneapolis | 0.4 mi | 5.9 |
| HIAWATHA ELEMENTARY Minneapolis | 0.6 mi | 7.0 |
| SANFORD MIDDLE Minneapolis | 0.6 mi | 7.5 |
| SUNNY HOLLOW MONTESSORI Saint Paul | 0.8 mi | 7.1 |
| MINNEHAHA ACADEMY - UPPER SCHOOL Minneapolis | 0.9 mi | 7.6 |
| GROVELAND PARK ELEMENTARY Saint Paul | 0.9 mi | 8.7 |
| Friendship Academy of Arts - Interm Minneapolis | 1.0 mi | 2.4 |
| HORACE MANN SCHOOL Saint Paul | 1.2 mi | 8.5 |
| NATIVITY OF OUR LORD SCHOOL Saint Paul | 1.1 mi | 4.8 |
| ST CATHERINE UNIVERSITY EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER Saint Paul | 1.2 mi | — |
| NORTHROP ELEMENTARY Minneapolis | 1.2 mi | 7.6 |
| HIGHLAND CATHOLIC SCHOOL Saint Paul | 1.4 mi | 7.3 |
| Hiawatha College Prep - Kingfield Minneapolis | 1.6 mi | 4.6 |
| Hiawatha Collegiate High School Minneapolis | 1.6 mi | 4.9 |
| JEAN LYLE'S CHILDRENS CENTER Saint Paul | 1.5 mi | — |
| FOUR SEASONS ELEMENTARY Saint Paul | 1.6 mi | 5.5 |
| Early Education Four Seasons Saint Paul | 1.6 mi | — |
| Bdote Learning Center Minneapolis | 1.6 mi | 5.3 |
| Roosevelt High Minneapolis | 1.4 mi | 7.9 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 55406 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$91,865
Median Home Value
$335,500
Median Rent
$1,276/mo
Population
35,863
College Educated
56%
Homeownership
66.8%
Avg Commute
22.5 min
Poverty Rate
8.2%
Median Age
39.7
Community Profile
The community surrounding Dowling Elementary has a median household income of $91,865. It is a well-educated community where 56% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $335,500, with a median rent of $1,276/month. The local poverty rate of 8.2% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| FAIR School Pilgrim Lane Plymouth, MN | 8.6 |
| FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY Mankato, MN | 8.6 |
| KNOLL ELEMENTARY Ortonville, MN | 8.6 |
| NEWPORT ELEMENTARY Newport, MN | 8.6 |
| TRACY ELEMENTARY Tracy, MN | 8.6 |
| A.C.G.C. ELEMENTARY Atwater, MN | 8.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Dowling Elementary
What grades does Dowling Elementary serve?
Dowling Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Dowling Elementary?
Dowling Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 315 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Dowling Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Dowling Elementary is 15:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Dowling Elementary rank in MN?
Dowling Elementary is ranked #71 out of 1,986 schools in MN.
What is Dowling Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Dowling Elementary has a composite rating of 8.6 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Dowling Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Dowling Elementary has 53.0% math proficiency and 60.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Dowling Elementary a charter school?
No, Dowling Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Dowling Elementary a Title I school?
No, Dowling Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Dowling Elementary?
37.8% of students at Dowling Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Neighborhood Context
- Walk Score
- 42 Car-Dependent
- Transit Score
- 39 Some Transit
- Bike Score
- 86 Very Bikeable
- City Safety
- High (6,330/100K)
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Minneapolis). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 315
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 21
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 37.8%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Hennepin County
- Phone
- (612) 668-4410
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Minneapolis Public School District- District Enrollment
- 29,063
- Schools in District
- 98
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $21,839
- District Rank
- #6 of 78
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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